外研選修七英語課文

1、—1—選修 選修 7Module 1 BasketballMichael Jordan — Head and Shoulders Above the Rest!During the 1990s, Michael Jordan was probably the best-known athlete in the world. He was the top scorer in the NBA, and played for the Chi

2、cago Bulls from 1984 to 1993. He was named their most valued player five times. Wearing his famous number 23 shirt, Michael Jordan became the most successful basketball player in the history of the game.Jordan was born i

3、n New York and grew up in North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina for a year before leaving to join the Chicago Bulls. He finished his first season (1984-1985) as one of the top scorers in the league

4、, with an average of 28.2 points per game.In 1987, Jordan became only the second player to score more than 3,000 points in a season. He was the top scorer in the NBA for seven consecutive seasons (1987-1993). During this

5、 time, the average number of points he scored was more than 30 points per game. With him, the Bulls won their first NBA championship in1991. During this successful period they won the title again in 1992 and 1993. Jordan

6、 was also in the United States Olympic Basketball Team, known as “the Dream Team”, which won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.Jordan surprised everyone when he retired before the 1993-1994 season,

7、but he rejoined the Chicago Bulls and won three more championships with them from 1996 to 1998. He played again for the Washington Wizards before finally retiring from sport in 2003 at the age of 40. Millions of fans adm

8、ire his athletic ability, motivation and confidence. They have fantastic stories to tell about Michael Jordan, such as the time when he rescued the Bulls from ending a game on a tie. He stepped to the line and made two f

9、ree throws. Each time he threw the ball straight through the basket — and each time he had his eyes closed.Off the basketball court, Michael Jordan opened his own steak restaurant because he loves steak so much. He also

10、found success as an actor in the film Space Jam alongside the famous cartoon character Bugs Bunny!There is only one word to describe the best player in the world — awesome!Wilt the Stilt — the Tower of Power!Michael Jord

11、an was the second player to score more than 3,000 points in a season – but the first was Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain was born in Philadelphia on 21st August 1936. He was one of the 11 children, the only one who was ver

12、y tall. His father William worked in a shipyard and his mother Olivia was a cleaner. As a child, Chamberlain had various health problems. He had pneumonia and almost died when he was ten.—3—In other sports, such as baseb

13、all and American football, the player’ energy moves parallel to the ground and towards their opponents, so they wear helmets which give adequate protection to their heads.But although basketball players wear socks and sn

14、eakers which are specially designed to absorb energy when they bound into the air, they wear no other protection, just a vest and shorts. If there is an abrupt change of direction in their energy, from vertical to horizo

15、ntal, such as when they accelerate across the court, bouncing the ball, there is a real danger of personal injury.For example, in the Kent State High School Basketball tournament, Chandler High was playing St Mary Centra

16、l and at the interval the score was 50-52. But St Mary had appointed a captain who was not a typical basketball player. Whereas everyone else was tall and slim with short haircuts, Joe Johannsen was short and stout, with

17、 long hair and a large belly. But he was really fast, and when he obtained control of the ball, he could make a circuit of the court and reach the opposing team’s boundary within seconds.Anyhow, twelve minutes into the s

18、econd half, Frank Sackler, the Chandler star player, made a controversial pass over Joe’s head. Joe stepped aside and dipped his head down. Sackler bounced off him and committed a foul. The referee interrupted the match

19、,and there was a suspension of play. But Joe was unhurt, short the penalty, and the score was 88-90. There were three minutes to go.Joe immediately took possession of the ball and ran, … and suddenly 80 kilos hit the Cha

20、ndler star, who howled loudly in pain and fell, with his nose bleeding and a cut on his left cheek. For a moment, he lay very still ,and the referee even checked his pulse, but soon confirmed he was OK. But when Sackler

21、stood up he was dizzy, so they put a bandage round his head, a blanket round his shoulders, and called an ambulance to take him to the hospital. Joe was a considerate guy, and apologized as Sackler left, sniffing and wee

22、ping, either in pain or in frustration.Chandler scored with the penalty, and their teamwork had won the match. But Frank Sackler still has the scar on his face as a souvenir of the tournament.How Did They Start?How did A

23、merican football start?Football — or soccer — started in England 800 years ago. The game was played with a round ball that players kicked but could not carry. There were two teams, but there were often a hundred players

24、on each team!However, in 1823, William Webb Ellis, a pupil at Rugby School in England, picked up the ball during a soccer game and ran with it. Teachers at the school were shocked and angry but Webb Ellis’s schoolmates e

25、njoyed this new game, which they named after the school. Eventually, rugby was played with an oval ball that could be both carried and thrown.Rugby was exported to the United States, changed a lot and became the sport th